FOR the first time in 80 years, the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources alongside the Fiji Law Reform Commission has begun nationwide consultations to review the State Lands Act 1945, a law citizens say no longer reflects Fiji’s current social, economic, and environmental needs.
The review aims to modernise Fiji’s land administration system, improve transparency and efficiency, and ensure land management processes meet current national needs.
Speaking during an interview at their first consultation in Nausori, Director for Lands Josefa Vuniamatana said the review was long overdue.
“You will understand that the State Land Act was formulated in 1945. So we are, as of today, 80 years since its enactment and we feel that it’s about time that we go into a review to address some of the issues,” he said.
He highlighted “pressing issues to do with the current economic development climate,” as well as the challenges linked to climate change and environmental concerns.
Questions were also raised about informal settlements. Mr Vuniamatana explained that the Government, through the Ministry of Housing and initially through the Ministry of Lands, has been working to regularise informal communities.
“It’s the government’s project to see if they can be regularised and if they can have some sort of leases and also to generate revenue for the Government for the pieces of State land that they are squatting on.”
He stressed that consultations are essential for gathering public views.
“This is the whole point, to have them come out in numbers and speak their minds.”
Two consultations will be held in the Central/Eastern Division before teams move to the North next week and later to the West.
A key concern raised so far is the lack of clear avenues for lodging complaints.
“The current State Lands Act does not provide for avenues where we address grievances other than heading to court, and we want to make sure that there are mechanisms in the Reviewed Act.”
He added that internal reviews have already identified loopholes, but the final recommendations will reflect input from the Fiji Law Reform Commission, stakeholders, and the public.
